eBay Business Take Home %

[toshalee]

Just curious approximately what everyone's take home percentage is after all fees and expenses. 

I know it will vary greatly depending on category and circumstances and so on and so forth but I would like to compare numbers.

I am taking home 20% but I set aside an additional 20% for inventory (which is kind of like a paycheck because sourcing is fun lol)

I am unsure if I am sitting low, about average or high. Last year I posted everything because I was trying to get volume rolling now I am trying to raise ASP so it may change but thought I would ask 🙂 

[kath.layn]

Are we talking about “Item Sales” (item price only) or “total sales” (including tax and shipping)?  Makes a big difference to those of us that sell and ship heavy items.  For every dollar I get in item sales, I end up pocketing 50 to 60 cents.  When I source I shoot for a minimum 5x markup.

[sfau]

Negative - because it is mostly outgrown stuff/toys sold at a fraction of the cost...but it does help to recoup some of the money to buy more clothes and some plush - sadly the toy days are over!  I always think about what turns into what - $30 shirt and then recoup $20 and it turns into a new $15 shirt and then recoup $10 and so on....

[toshalee]

I guess the easiest way to respond would be that after all the money hits your bank account what percent of each dollar do you pocket. 

[johnrj1226]

Over 1665 items shipped I averaged 36.5%  gross profit before taxes.  That  percentage  is based on  the total selling price including shipping & handling = not a  mark-up %age.  

Here are all the factors I used - used Excel spread sheets for all 1665 items and tax  purposes.  The example is based on  eBay s  & PayPal's  previous fee structure - similar costs to today's eBay selling fees.

[toshalee]

Out of your gross do I would imagine you pay overhead and set aside some for more inventory? 

[luckythewinner]

Just curious approximately what everyone's take home percentage is after all fees and expenses. 

Take home percentage of the selling price, or the total transaction? Or something else? 

I try not to get hung up on percentages, and focus on dollars instead. 

If I make a $90 sale and clear $25, my take home percentage is 28% of the sale. If I make a $30 sale and clear $20, my take home percentage is 67% of the sale.

 Which is better? Personally, I would rather make 28% than 67% if it means I get 25% more money ($25 vs. $20) . 

But all that aside ... 

IMHO the most important number is my "wage". How much profit am I making per hour invested? 

But to answer your question, historically I take home 65% of the selling price after all expenses (including cost of goods sold).  

[johnrj1226]

No real overhead - I paid myself  zero -  our  house  is heated , cooled whether we sell or not - don't  deduct  any %- out of  each  sale I deduct supplies and a bit  of wear/tear for printers, it is shown in my spread sheet,  Kept tract of my  beginning and ending inventory each calendar year - don't deduct  office space or internet  costs or other like costs - invites   audits  by the IRS - don't want the  hassle.  When I stopped  selling on eBay only  had 13 items unsold -  sold them in a yard sale at  my acquisition cost or a bit more.  Yep  always used funds from  sales to   pay for initial inventory and  future inventory that was paid for out of our pay pal debit  card.  Wasn't a  big time seller  no need to get fancy - just  wanted  to stay busy after retiring and  have some extra funds to do extra stuff in our  retirement years - like  go to casinos on our  way to see our  daughter and grands in Texas (950 miles away) or just to Biloxi MS  5 hr ride from home.  Now we  have an almost 6 y.o. grand 20 minutes away and we do "free" day care or go watch his soccer, baseball  games , he luvs to stay at our home over night - we  luv watching Wyatt - take him fishing, taught how to shake  his booty to Louis "Sachmo" Armstrong, roll dice on our pool table, play his  pool games, take hikes in our woods, teaching him to  save  $ from helping me  do some work etc  they grow up too fast.  Pura Vida